Apparatus for applying tape to conductors



Nov. 3, 1931.

E. e. LOOMIS 1,830,669 I APPARATUS FUR APPLYING TAPE TO CONDUCTORS Filed Oct. 1, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1931.

-E. G. LOOMIS APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE T0 CONDUCTORS I Filed 00%,. l. 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Nov. 3, 1931. E. G. 'LOOMlS I 1,830,669

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING TAPE TO CONDUCTORS Filed Oct. 1. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 M wm aim;

I? I. l w: m:

illll lil" v INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY 5g.

' times, an indicator or indicators being pro- 5 Patented Nov. 3, 1931 UNITED sTAT s -PATENT OFFICE EVARTS c.1ooms, or NEWARK, NEW JEii-sEi', AssIeNoE TO THE oxomTE oALLENnEn' CABLE COMPANY, INCORPORATED, or PATIERSON, NEW RSEY, A CORPORATION on NE rEEsEY Y APPARATUS FOR APPLYING- .lAPE QDQ GONDUCTORS I Application flled flctober 1, 1980. Serial Ito. 485,806. I a k machines, however, dificulty has been eX-' perienced in applying all the tapes under the proper tensionand also in maintaining'a' constant or uniform tension on the tapes. The

result is that skilled operators are required for the operation of themachines and eve I at best results are unsatisfactory.

One of the objects of the present invention is the provision. of'a taping apparatus for use in the manufacture of electric cables so constructed and arranged that the tapes will be applied under uniform tension, means being provided also in connection with my improved apparatus whereby the tension onthe tape of any head can'be' determinedat all vided to indicate the-tape tension.

Another object of my invention is the provision of means for stopping the operation of the machine in case of a breakage of any one of the tapes or when any one of the tapes has been used u or, comes to an end.

' Afurther ob ect of my invention is the provision of a signal for indicating which of the tapes has been 'ruptured,- it beinglunderstood that several rolls of tape are employed in these machines. Heretofore upon 3 the stopping of the machine an investigation of the spools of tape was necessary to ascertain which tape had been ruptured, but with m improved device the signal will indicate Just which tape has been ruptured or at least which head carries theruptured tape.

A still further object of my invention is the provision'of a device whch can; be adjusted whereby the tapes .can be overlapped to any desired'extent, or if desired the edges be manifest from the following description of the tape can be separated or can be made to abut each other, or if desired tapes of various widths may be employed.

Still further objects of my invention will and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: v v Fig. 1 is. a fragmentary elevational view of a taping head constructed in accordance -with my invention; I g a W.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on line 2-2; of

Fig. 3 is a side view looking from right 9 'toleifiaatFigl; i i a' v Fig. i is a sectional view on line ie-def -itig. l; and a Fig. 5 is a wiring diagram of the electric circuit employed withmy improved deviceg Reference is made to my cd-pending application Serial No. t85,805, filed Oct. 1,1930, 65 wherein l have illustrated more in detail a taping machine of the same type as the one to which my present invention is directed, itbeing believed unnecessary to illustrate or describe the details of-theinachine herein. c lit will-be seen from the application above referred to that machines or this character comprise a plurality ot taping heads eachcbniprising a plurality of unitsone of which only I have illustrated in the drawings ac companying this application V This unit designated 1 comprises spools of tape 2, 3 and 4: mounted for, rotation on v a shaft 5'which issupported by an arnfti. The lower end of the arm 6 carries a fixed an spindle '7 on'which are mounted-three' brackets 8 9 and l0-foreach of the spools 2, 3 and't, respectively.

As the tape 11 leaves the spool it passes under a guide roll 12 and thence between a a5,

fixed shoe 13 and a movable shoe 14. The

also carried by the bracket 10. The magnets being energizedduring the normal operation of'the machine w1ll draw the extension 16 downwardly thereby moving the forward end of the shoe 14 into engagement 7 with the fixed shoe 13 whereby tension is aphas a rounded face 18 over which the tape passes. This face 18is provided with a bore a 19 which receives a pin 20 backed up by a spring 21 whereby the pin is normally held against the tape. This pin 20 carries a stud 22 which is adapted to ride in a slot or guideway 23 in the movable shoe.

An electric contact 24 is carried by the bracket 10 and is in the path of the stud 22 for the purpose of closing an electric circuit as will hereinafter be described.

' Each of the brackets 8, 9 and 10 carries a pair of guide arms 25, 26 and 27, respectively. These arms each straddle their respective spools of tape and are mounted on the spindle 7 in such a manner as to be rotated out of operating position when iti s desired to replace the spools of tape.

Each of the arms 25, 26 and 27- is held in operative position by means of locking mec-hanlsm comprising a latch 28 pivoted at 29 to its respective arm. This latch 28 is provided with a shoulder 30 for engaging a notch 31 in the bracket 10 andis held therein by means of a spring 32, When it is desired to replace a spool of tape the latch is raised out of engaging position whereby any one of the arms 25, 26 or 27 is free to move out of operating position.

Means in the form of U-shaped wires 33 are provided for preventing over-running of the spools. These wires are supported on their respective arms where theends are formed into helical springs 34 for maintaining the U-shapedend ofthe wire in frictional engagementwith. the spool.

As illustrated in Fig. 3 the brackets 9 and 10 are adjustable laterally with respect to each other and 'to the bracket 8, the bracket 8 being aflixed to the spindle by means of a pin or in any other suitable manner.

The brackets 8, 9 and 10 extend downwardly and form bearings for a right and left hand screw 37. The lower ends of the brackets 9 and 10 each have a key 35 which rides in the keyway 36 inthe spindle 7. Said screw 37 carries collars 38 and 39- pinned to the shaft on either side of the lower end of the bracket 9 for preventing lateral movement of the screw with respect to the bracket 9. t

The bearings carried'by brackets 8 and 10 are screw threaded to cooperate with the threaded ends of screw 37, one end being a right hand screw and the other end a left hand screw.

The screw'37 is provided with a square end for receiving a wrench or the like for rotata ing the same. As the shaft is rotated, it will be obvious that the brackets 9 and 10 will be moved away from the bracket 8, the bracket 10 moving at twice the speed of the bracket 9 whereby the same relative distance or space between the'three brackets will be maintained.

As above stated the tension on the tapes is controlled by electro-magnets 17, 17 and 17 This tension is indicated on a volt meter or'indicator 40 which is calibrated in pounds to register the pull on the tape and all of which will be described'presently.

WVhen the machine is to be stopped upon the rupturing of a tape or when the tape on a spool has been used up, a relay 46 having two coils 47 and 48 of unequal resistance is brought into action, the coil 47 being connected in series with the windings of the tension-applying magnets 17, 17 and 17 and is wound in the opposite direction to the coil 48, said coil 48 being connected in parallel with the tension-applying magnets, thereby maintaining the magnetic field of the relay 46 in a balanced state until such time as said tension magnets are shorted from the circuit. When this occurs the core49 is energized and will thereby close a switch 50, the purpose of which will be described presently.

When the machine is setin operation the switch 42 will be closed causing current to flow from one side of-the source of supply through the rheostat 41, conductor 43, slip ring .44, conductor'45, to the three magnets 17, 17 and 17 and thence to ground, to conductor 51, coil 47, conductors 52 and 53 to the other side of the source of supply.

Current is supplied to the coil 48 throu h the rheostat 41, conductors 43, 54, coil 48,

can be regulated by 'means'of a rheostat 41,

,conductor 55 to ground, conductor 51, coil 47 and conductors 52 and 53 to the source of supply, thus maintaining a balanced magnetic field on the core 49. Current also passes through the rheostat 41, conductor 56 to the volt meter or indicator 40, thence through ground, conductor 51, coil 47 and conductors 52 and 53 for the purpose of recording ounds.

core 49 and closing the switch 50, causing current to flow through conductor 58, lamp 59, relay. 60, conductors Q1 and 53 to the source of supply. This circuit just described will illuminate the lamp 59 to indicate that a tape has either been ruptured or used up on the particular headwhere the signal is indicated and willalso energize the relay 60 to break the circuit to the driving motor 62.

It will be obvious from the foregoing de scription that I have provided an electrically controlled mechanism for regulating inillustrated and descri ed as various mod ificationsmay be made within the scope 0 m invention, a

'- WhatI claim is v I 1. Ina machine of the class described the combination of a spool of tape adapted to be wound about a cable, a relatively fixed shoe.

and aacooperating movablev electrically con trolled shoeadapted to grip the tape to maintain a uniform tension on the same as it is being wound on the cable.

In a machine of the class described the combination of a spool of tape adapted to be wound about a cable, and a air of shoes or clamps one of which is electrically controlled is being Wound on the cable, and means for varying the clamping action of the said adapted to grip the tape as it passes to the mcable being wound tomaintain a uniform tension on the tape. l

3. In a machine of the class described the combination of a spool of tape adapted to be wound about a cable, electrically controlled clamping means for clamping the tape to maintain a uniform tension on the same as it clamping means tovary the tensiononsaid 4. In a machine; of the class described the combination of a spool ofvtapeadapted to be wound about a cable, electrically controlled means for maintaining'a uniform tension on the tape as it being wound on the cable, and a rheostat for controlling the action of said electrically controlled means for varying the tension on said tape.

5. In a machine of the class dds cribed the combination of a spool of tape adapted to be wound about'a cable, an electro-magnet for:

maintaining a uniform tension on the tape as it is being wound on the cable, and a rheostat fort-controlling the circuit'through said electro-magnet for varying the tension onsaid tape. 1

trically clamplng the tape to control the tension on as the same-is applied to the con- I 6. In a machine for the manufacture of electric cables, the combination of rotatable means for supportmg a plurality of spools of tape in operative relation to a conductor to which the tape is to be applied, and eleccontrolled clamping means for said tape ductor. v x

7. In a machine of the class described th combination of a motor for driving'the machine, a spool of tape adapted to be wound about a cable, an electrically controlled clamp for clamping the tape to maintain a uniform tension on the same as it is being wound on the cable, electrically controlled means coin-' prising'a relay for opening the motor circuit, and means in the path of the; tape for controlling the circuit of said relay operative of said motor. v I

8. In a machine for the manufacture of electrlc cables, the combination of a rotatable head for supportinga plurality of spools of tape in operative relation to a conductor to uponbreaking or ending of the tape to close .the clrcuit of said relay to open the circuit whichthe tape is to be applied, a guide arm straddling each spool, an extension on each arm, a screw threaded'oppositelythrough two of said armstand passlng freely through;

the other, rotationof said screw effectin lateral adjustment of the three arms while maintaining the same relative distance between the three arms.

9. In a machine of the combination of means for applying tape about means for maintaining a uniform tension on the tape as it is being applied, and means for indicating the tension in the tape.

10. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a spool of tape adapted to be wound about a cable, apair of shoes or clamps -adapted to grip thetape as it passes .to the class described, the

a cable conductor, electrically controlled cable being wound, an electromagnet for corn trolling one of said shoes, a double wound relay one winding of which is in series with the winding ot-said'electromagneha motor for driving. the machine, a secondre'l'ay in series with said motor, a switch in the motor circuit controlled bysaid second relay, and.

means controlled by the tape being wound for shorting the one coil of said double wound relay when the tape breaks or has ended to effect a closure of the circuit otthe second relay to open the circuit of said motor. a

11. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of aspool of tape adapted to be wound about a cable, a pair of pivoted clamping shoes adapted to clamp the tape on its way to the conductor being wound, one of said shoes being pivoted intermediate its ends; ,an electromagnet the armature of which is' provided by said pivoted shoe, a double wound relay controlling the circuit of said electromagnet, a motor for driving the machine also controlled by said double wound relay, a pin adapted to be engaged by the tape as it passes to the conductor being Wound, a spring for actuating said pin upon breaking or ending of the tape to short circuit the Windingof said electromagnet and to short circuit one Winding of said relay to efiect an opening of the circuit of said motor. This specification signed this 10th day of September, 1930.

EVARTS G. LOOMIS. 

